Objective of the Game

Mulatschak is a traditional Austrian card game, mainly popular in the Alpine regions. The primary objective is to win three tricks, known as "Mulatschak." The game is trick-based and resembles other games like Skat or Schafkopf in its mechanics.

Game Components

• A 32-card deck consisting of the ranks 7 through Ace in the suits of Clubs, Spades, Hearts, and Diamonds.

Number of Players

• 3 to 4 players

Dealing Cards and Trump Suit

A player is the dealer and deals 5 cards to each player. The remaining cards form the deck and are placed face down in the center.

After distributing the cards, the trump suit is determined: - The dealer turns over the top card of the deck and places it face up next to the pile. The suit of this card determines the trump suit.

Gameplay

Announcements:

1. Trump Confirmation: Players have the opportunity to confirm the trump or make a "Kontra" announcement. This implies they are confident of making three tricks and thus doubling the score.
2. "Mulatschak" Announcement: A player can declare "Mulatschak" if they are certain they can win all five tricks in the game. If successful, the player wins immediately.

Proceeding of the Game:

The game starts with the first player to the left of the dealer and moves clockwise. Each player must play a card of the same suit as the first card played if they have one. If not, they may play a trump card or a card of a different suit. The highest trump wins the trick, or the highest card of the led suit if no trump was played.

The player who wins the trick leads the next trick.

Special Features and Strategies

• Bluffing and tactics play significant roles, as a well-timed "Kontra" or "Mulatschak" announcement can massively increase the score.
• Experienced players typically try to remember which cards have been played to strategize effectively.
• It is advisable to hold back trump cards to gain an advantage in critical rounds.

Scoring

The game ends when a player either successfully declares and fulfills a Mulatschak or reaches a predetermined point threshold.

In essence, Mulatschak offers a blend of strategic thinking and risk-based decisions, where finding the right balance between offense and defense is key.